Nearly 4,800 Attendees Flock to 2016 ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition in Salt Lake City
August 22, 2016
Close to 4,800 association professionals and industry partners took part in the 2016 ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition, held last week in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Attendees took part in more than 120 education sessions, two keynotes and five Game Changers, as well as 20-plus OpenSpace pop-ups and events. ASAE Foundation’s The Classic event also sold out for the second year in a row.
The final attendance breakdown includes: 2,669 executives, 1,739 exhibitors, 381 others, including guests, spouses, press, vendors, and staff, for a grand total of 4,789.
A total of 424 companies representing 679 booths exhibited in the expo hall, which resulted in a strong ratio of 60 percent buyers (association staff) to 40 percent sellers (industry partners).
“Our attendees loved the greater variety of learning opportunities this year. Both keynotes received rare standing ovations from our attendees. Mark and Scott Kelly provided insight on leadership lessons learned in space, and Derreck Kayongo stressed the importance of paying attention to details and to make revolutionary connections in work and life. Everyone left inspired and ready to implement new strategies and ideas,” said ASAE President and CEO John H. Graham IV, FASAE, CAE.
During the opening keynote, Captains Mark and Scott Kelly discussed their childhood inspirations, experiences as U.S. Navy fighter pilots, lessons learned as NASA astronauts, and revelations from Scott’s year on the International Space Station.
They also reflected on the importance of doing the hard things, keen focus on what you can control, and other leadership lessons learned while flying in combat, dealing with loss, and traveling in space.
During the closing keynote, Dr. Derreck Kayongo, CEO at the Center for Civil and Human Rights, gave advice on how association professionals should observe the world around them and leverage their skills and vision to overcome impossible odds and impact the lives of others.
The talk was illustrated by Kayongo’s own story of transformation from his childhood in Uganda, to a refugee in Kenya, to U.S. citizen building a multi-million dollar venture called the Global Soap Project.
Sunday afternoon through Tuesday morning, five Game Changers provided diverse perspectives from outside the association community included: Matt Tenney, CEO, Wanna Save the World: Veronika Scott, founder and CEO, The Empowerment Plan; Tan Le, CEO of bioinformatics firm EMOTIV; Robert Stephens, Founder Geek Squad and former CTO Best Buy; Charles Best, founder & CEO of K-12 micro-philanthropy site Donorschoose.org.
ASAE raised $30,000 for the Utah Food Bank, which will helps provide 100,000 meals for the community. The Utah Food Bank has served the community for more than 110 years and distributed more than 31 million meals to the entire state.
The 2017 ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition will be Aug. 12-15 in Toronto, Ontario.
Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.
Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.
Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.
The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.
MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.
MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.
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